There's one significant switch in circumstances: Those were at smaller tournaments. This time, there's a major title on the line, and Williams is at her best when the stakes are the biggest.

"Different energy, different opportunities. This is for a Grand Slam," Williams said. "I mean, she's trying to win yet another one; I'm trying to win one myself. It's just different."

Williams will be playing in her third consecutive U.S. Open final, seventh overall, and the 21st major title match of her career. She is 16-4, two Grand Slam titles away from two of the greats of the game: Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert, who each won 18. The only women with more are Margaret Court with 24, Steffi Graf with 22, and Helen Wills Moody, 19.

"Yeah, I thought about that," Williams said, "but I can't think about that. It's still so close, but it's still so far."

Williams made clear how she feels about rankings when she was asked to pick between Roger Federer, who owns 17 majors, or Rafael Nadal, who has 12.

"I go by numbers," Williams responded. "I don't think I'm the greatest, because Steffi has way more Grand Slams than me."

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